Optimizing Spares Support: The Aircraft Sustainability Model.
Abstract
Modem inventory management typically relies, when possible, on quick deliveries from suppliers, and aims to carry minimal inventory. Such practices work best in managing low-cost items with stable demand and significant market size. But supporting advanced military equipment poses unique problems: small fleet sizes and low operating tempos lead to sporadic and unstable demand pattems; components are highly specialized, have limited or uncertain sources of supply, and often procurement lead-times of years. The Aircraft Sustainability Model (ASM), developed by the Logistics Management Institute for the United States Air Force, is a mathematicai model that computes optimal spares mixes to support a wide range of possible operating scenarios. The ASM sizes spares levels based on desired weapon system readiness levels, rather than on supply-oriented measures, such as stock on shelf or percent of demands filled, The ASM has been used by the USAF to determine spares kits to support wartime squadron deployments; an enhanced version handles initial provisioning. This report describes the model, the problems it was developed to solve, and the mathematical techniques it uses to solve them. It is intended for readers with some background in probability and statistics. Familiarity with multi-chelon inventory theory is not required.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA320502
Entities
People
- F. M. Slay
- Frank L. Eichorn
- Robert C. Kline
- T. J. O'malley
- Tovey C. Bachman
Organizations
- LMI